Yeah, well this is where I want Carlton's management to go on the offensive. Let's demand what we want and not just willingly accept the AFL's system of helping clubs via father-sons & academies.
Demand they are both reformed at the end of the year.

My belief is one academy player at the Suns per year is enough. If they want a 2nd player there has to be some mechanism where other clubs have a good chance 50/50 of picking that player up...not this pathetic points system where the Suns etc just outbid the other club....or if they can't find a system to do that - then only one player from the academy per year. That's it. Pick your one and then open slather for the next academy player.

1) We simply have to stop bombing to our key forwards. Occasionally we can put it over the back of them to run onto it but even that should be directed. Must clear out a path for them (like Geelong did with Hawkins and does with Cameron). If the oppo choose to block that path, it means someone else is on. If we use our contest winning edge to get the ball forward and drop it in front of Charlie or Harry leading, ideally within 30m, we will be unstoppable.

1a) We MUST have crumbers at Charlie and Harry’s feet. And if it looks like it will be tough to take the grab, they should palm it to the crumbers on the burst.

2) We have to move the ball quickly from defence. And have different patterns so the opposition can’t predict exactly what we will do (like they could this year).

3) Generally, look forward for the next disposal, not backwards. Sideways, at worst.

4) Players ahead of the ball must keep moving. We’re often way too static which makes it very difficult for the ball carrier and is often the reason why we’re stagnant/slow to move the ball and also why we end up bombing it. Leading players must use both depth and angles to make it impossible for the position to guard. Like Hawthorn did against us - our players simply looked lost.

5) We can never be too far ahead in a game or on the ladder. DO NOT take our foot off the gas. Do not take anything for granted. Do not be arrogant.

If we can do these things, we should be right in the mix in September. We have the cattle.
One of my concerns is that we’ll turn on each other if the first few games don’t go as well as we hope (which is basically winning all of them). We need to be winning when the whips are cracking. We need to build to that, whilst still racking up wins along the way to keep us in the hunt for top 2.


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We have the cattle
That’s debatable
My overall impression of the year is we relied too much on too few
Admittedly the terrible fitness regime had a large impact on us falling away
But we still have massive deficiencies in our list
We need another solid big defender
Our midfield is too similar too slow and doesn’t have enough run
Our small forwards were overall terrible
Voss is a ordinary tactician

Obviously we need to recruit a quick mid who can kick it with pick 3
We need another key back
That’s not Haynes
Nathan Cooper thank you
I want to see form rewarded
Binns should have played earlier based on his VFL form
He needs to improve his inside and defensive game but the guy gives us something different
He can run is a good kick and has a swagger
Lord looks good
Moir I would play round one
All 3 should have played in that elimination final
Simply don’t play Williams if he isn’t AFL fit
It’s a joke he gets gifted games when he isn’t fit enough
Don’t play McGovern if he squibs it
Play DeKoning and have Pittonet purely as a backup in the VFL
Hopefully with less injuries we will
Have more continuity
We had a guy who polled 45 out of 69 votes in the
Brownlow yet we finished up playing like a bottom 6 team

If Durdin gets his shoulders right I reckon he can be really good small forward
Less sold on Motlop and Fogarty
The thing about supporters is they predominantly think about their own team and not the others
The comp is so even
Premierships are hard to win these days
Gold Coast for instance are ready to be a force
Brisbane will continue to be strong etc etc etc
Given we don’t have much to play with in the 2025 draft the remaining recruiting in 2024 is pivotal to success in 2025
We have to get pick 3 right
We have to find another key pos defender
We have to
find someone to help Voss tactically
We have to have a fairer promotion and demotion system
We have to get our fitness program right
Even then with the evenness of the comp we need a lot of luck to win number 17

Agree with everything you’ve said Keogh.
It is debatable about our list - I think of that game against Geelong and we looked as strong as any team. Then again, we were clearly found wanting against both grand finalists.
I would love a new assistant with tactical nous.


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There's not much we disagree with keogh.

Bottom line, you are suggesting if the injuries are curtailed we will improve a lot, and yet we have a few holes to cover over the next 2 years and that aint going to happen in one Trade/Draft period. Vossy needs help to plan cover for any of our weaknesses.

I expect Lord, Pick 3 and Moir to feature in 2025, maybe Binns too, whist Acres recovers from back op, and if Hollands plays HB.

I don't believe for a minute any poster, and anyone outside the MC who can say with conviction Voss is not a good tactician, or whether that's his role. But I agree something needs to change tactically in defense, running ball out, lowering eyes...all easy fixes over preseason...but must be sorted out during preseason not mid season.

You have to judge the midfield group in 2025 as a whole, Cripps Walsh Cerra Hewett and add Pick 3 and Lord to that group with support from Hollands.E and Doc...and Ben Campo and Wilson too. Change has happened turning over plodders Carroll and Kennedy. Midfield profile is very different in 2025.

Durdin is the best of the small forwards imo, but injury hasnt been kind to him. We have him. Just need him to get a good run, and have him play as a FP not a small forward in the BP.

Williams is great when fit. Agree he only plays fit. Ditto every player.

I doubt Gov will keep Haynes out of the team. Haynes will surprise.
Jack Silvagni to train with defense and CHB role. I hope that works, but that robs us of a Fwd-Ruck.

Copper or McCartin for KPD, or McMahon for KP, in the SSP?
All fill position in need. One will be on our list after SSP. Cats and Sydney really keen on McCartin.

If TDK is sole ruck and Harry gives a chop out, we need another target forward with Charlie. Food for Thought.

We can win the flag with the 2025 list if the foot gods are kind to us.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

i'd like to see walsh get a good pre season in, and be given the wing until blacres is back.

opening bounce 2025, round 1 centre square for me, is:

TDK
Cripps
Hewett
Cerra

walsh and ollie on the wings with FInn O'Sullivan getting first chop out or if he's as good as advertised, starts on half back and runs thru the middle like Daicos did in his first year.

I reckon SOJ is too slow to be a key defender

This is a sign that Carlton's management is going on the offensive.

We give the AFL over 1 million people through the gates every year. About time they show Carlton some respect. A good draw - no opening round in Brisbane - no matches in Brisbane etc... get the draw that makes it more likely we play finals (as Collingwood gets every year). Only one match in Sydney..etc. Two matches against traditional rival Richmond.

That is the focus.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/blues- ... 15f4798af2

A lead up forward needs pace to create distance between him and his opponent.
If SOS is too slow to be a defender, is he therefore too slow to be a Forward?

It really depends on his opponent imo, and SOS' smarts to contain his opponent.

I thought he was the popular answer for the Fwd -Ruck spot we filled with the shorter Kennedy last year.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Carlton has the numbers: Members, TV audience, Attendances.

The O Round was not the success the AFL make out. What an absolute farce the AFL Commission is. A bunch of spruikers.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Yes. Some respect.

5 games interstate is a good starting point.

2 in Perth
1 in Adelaide (plus the Magical Round or whatever they call it)
1 in Sydney
1 on Gold Coast

evenly spaced out.
Carlton has a massive following in all states- 25% of members are interstate I believe, yet the aim is to get Carlton playing finals and the more interstate matches one has the more likely it is that losses will follow.

1 more game at the MCG too. Thanks. It's been 30 friggin years...let's go!

Well… yeah.

It’s not so much pace, but acceleration. As a defender, he would have to play as a third banana & be the one they have to jump over. Hope to scoop up a few loose balls… they’ll work him up & out sprint him going back. The arm will go up for a handover & someone else will get chewed.

The forward/ruck role will work for him. As a forward, he can use his smarts & work rate to block & create space. In the ruck he can play the role as an inside mid, then come off for a spell.

There’s no role for a ruck/resting forward.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

If TDK is No 1 ruck, I am confident to believe we will see TDK in the forwardline. It depends on the talent to give him the chop out.

Whether its called resting or not, I'm also sure we will hear and read that TDK was "rested" forward to create the 3 headed monster, or the give the Blues a 2 prong KPF whilst Harry gives the chop out.

I'm also sure, TDK will be rested on the bench if he rucks 80% of game.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I was pleased to read team lists this morning and noted the SOS created Zac Tuohy-Marchbank saga over and with that another sad Carlton chapter at the draft/trade table closed.

With the Judd-Kennedy saga over a few years back when Kennedy retired, the stigma of getting it wrong remained like a bone pointed at the club whilst they were still kicking the footy.

Is 2025 the Renaissance for the Baggers?

With Philp delisted last year, and Cuningham delisted this year, I was kind of hoping Kemp did join SOS at the Saints with another SOS midfield failure, Liam Stocker, to put closure to the SOS midfield curse.

I don't expect Kemp will be Best 23 in 2025; not as a mid, with the plethora of superb midfielders on our list in 2025, and the return of SOS as the 3rd tall and Haynes pushing Kemp out of the backline. I also believe Gov will be pushed out of the backline too if Austin can land a mature KPD in the draft or if Young retains his newfound confidence and Voss coaches Young well enough to improve his game.

I'm hopeful the stigma of SOS and his midfield fails is put to bed after Austin selects his midfielder at Pick 3, in the upcoming draft. He should be a star, and compliment bonafide stars Cripps, Walsh, Cerra, Hewett, and lead the upcoming fledgling midfield squad consisting of Lord, Wilson, Hollands, Hollands and Cowan for the next decade.

I'm hoping for the SOS spine and Austin's midfield group to win us a flag this year.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Weiderman & Francis is the SOS spine.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

Prophetic call, @GreatEx. Cruised to the GF and froze completely. almost unprecedented for a minor premier to underperform so badly. i wasn’t that surprised. it’s not like they were knocking on the door in 2023 and 2022. a team that is well drilled and gets the most from its players and system. didn’t have the line by line talent Lions have, couldn’t run with them when Lions clicked.


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to add to the story, was gifted two tickets to the Semi Final where we beat North in a tense affair by a mate who i who i’d a few years amongst friends with at home games.

we used to stand at non-Heatly end behind where opposition cheer squad would sit. always a good mix of blues and opposition supporters and lots of hilarious banter.

anyhow i went to school in year 11 and 12 (i think he did yr 12!) with a couple of kids who North brought down from the bush to develop and watch and he happened to be playing in this final for North and threw a K.O. blow at diesel which had Diesel on the ground and IIRC stretched off a week prior to the 95 GF!

cause i knew him and his bully boy ways at school i was out of my seat and yelling “you flowering d_ck Scwass, typical gutless move ya…” before i knew it, then sat down a bit embarrassed.

i was just upset that we might lose Diesel for the GF. fortunately Diesel was fine and played a blinder from (notionally) a forward pocket in the GF.

to Wayne’s credit in life after AFL he started Puka-up, which works with teen age men to raise their knowledge of mental health and suicide prevention, even if bullying is a major source of depression and anxiety for teens. that’s more than i’ve ever done so hats off to him for that, (and beating us in 96 GF i suppose, still can’t believe we lost that to those Norf chumpsj.

incidentally, imagine Voss playing Crippa in the a forward pocket or a deep HF flank for a entire GF!! would never happen, you gotta hand it to parko, he had the strategic aspects of the game worked out.

(i know, different era, different game, different players, just sayin’ it was a gutsy tactic, whoever worked it out Parko had to have the guts to do it)


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Yeah . In "72 Big Nick plonked himself in the goal square and let Percy ruck all day . A masterstroke . Record score . From memory the great man jagged a lazy 5 or 6 . Same Wallsy and Jezza .

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All my dangerous friends

Great stuff. I still can't believe we won that prelim by 10 goals....for so much of the night it felt like a tense, gripping affair in pissing rain

Who did Darren Crocker iron out? I thought he got Diesel & Schwatta got Peter Dean. Although my memory could be unreliable. I didn't treat myself well in the 90s

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#DonTheStash

but how do you really feel, Keogh? a bit harsh i reckon.

i hope Hayes becomes more than a reserves player to fill in if Weiters is injured. he didn’t crack the AFL at GWS bc they didn’t want to mess with the formula that was working while he was out with guts issues for a year or so. doesn’t mean he is past it. Jones wasn’t past it when he returned to the Bulldogs at a similar age. I hope he pushes Young or Gov out of the first pick back six.

you praise Geelong’s recruiting, they snapped Jack Martin up same way we grabbed Haynes. Potentially a game winner if his durability issues were Russell “break-a-few-on-the-training-track” related. or potentially nothing much comes of it. footy ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

as for recruiting a genuine tall KPD to compliment Weiters not just play when he can’t, i’m hoping pick #38 does just that for us. quite a few will be available thereabouts, maybe we can trade up to #32 or something.

trades we got right:
Newman, deserving second in the Nichols Medal 2024 just gets keeps getting better as his body drops from its peak.
Cerra, fair enough if jury remains undecided but has the development potential to become the class ball user in our midfield.
Hewitt, defied the doubters this season to take it to the next level, more versatile and more dependable outside of a lockdown role.
Saad, more upside than downside.
Fogarty, ditto.
Elijah Hollands, still improving, already good, doesn’t fu much which is something we can’t say for some.
probably others i’m forgetting.


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